Backplane Wiring for an Input-Output Panel Used for Front or Rear Access

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, an input-output (I-O) panel is transformed. The I-O panel is configured to couple to an array of first midplane connectors of a first shelf configured according to a first format, where the first shelf has rear access. The I-O panel comprises an array of I-O panel connectors and defines an xy-plane. An array of second midplane connectors of a second shelf is transformed to substantially align the second midplane connectors with the I-O panel connectors. The second shelf is configured according to a second format, where the second shelf has front access. The array of second midplane connectors is arranged in columns defining a midplane column axis and rows defining a midplane row axis.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/367,570, entitled BACKPLANE WIRING FOR ANINPUT-OUTPUT PANEL USED FOR FRONT OR REAR ACCESS, filed Feb. 9, 2009.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of communication systemsand more specifically to backplane wiring for an input-output panel usedfor front or rear access.

BACKGROUND

Circuit board shelves hold circuit boards. A circuit board shelfprovides connectors into which the boards are plugged. Input may beprovided to and output may be received from the boards through theshelf.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with the present invention, disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous techniques for providing input to and receivingoutput from circuit board may be reduced or eliminated.

According to one embodiment, an input-output (I-O) panel is transformed.The I-O panel is configured to couple to an array of first midplaneconnectors of a first shelf configured according to a first format,where the first shelf has rear access. The I-O panel comprises an arrayof I-O panel connectors and defines an xy-plane. An array of secondmidplane connectors of a second shelf is transformed to substantiallyalign the second midplane connectors with the I-O panel connectors. Thesecond shelf is configured according to a second format, where thesecond shelf has front access. The array of second midplane connectorsis arranged in columns defining a midplane column axis and rows defininga midplane row axis.

Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technicaladvantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may be that aninput-output panel may be used with a first shelf having rear accessconfigured according to a first format, or with a second shelf havingfront access configured according to a second format different from thefirst format. For example, the first format may be a Network EquipmentBuilding Systems (NEBS) format, and the second format may be a EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format. The second shelfmay be wired to accommodate the input-output panel.

Certain embodiments of the invention may include none, some, or all ofthe above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantagesmay be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an input-output panel;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of midplane connector arrays;

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the input-output panel used with aNEBS shelf; and

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the input-output panel used with anETSI shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are bestunderstood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

In certain embodiments, midplane connectors may be employed to provideinput-output connectivity to input-output panels in order to obtain moreefficient use of backplane area. The connections between the midplaneand input-output panel may be made by generic high density connectors.The outer surface of the input-output panel may provide media specificconnectors, for example, multi-pair connectors, LAN connectors, orcoaxial connectors. By selecting the appropriate input-output paneltype, the same backplane may be effectively optimized for specificapplications.

In certain embodiments, the same input-output panel may be used for rearaccess shelf designs (for example, NEBS shelves) and front access shelfdesigns (for example, ETSI shelves). The main difference between therear and front access systems may be the backplane and shelf. Thecircuit boards and input-output panels may then be usable in both shelfdesigns.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an apparatus 10 that includes aninput-output panel 20. In certain embodiments, an input-output panel 20may be used with first shelf 14 a having rear access configuredaccording to a first format, or with a second shelf 14 b having frontaccess configured according to a second format different from the firstformat. For example, the first format may be a Network EquipmentBuilding Systems (NEBS) format, and the second format may be a EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format. The second shelfmay be wired to accommodate the input-output panel.

In certain embodiments, input-output panel 20 comprises an array of I-Opanel connectors 24 that connect to midplane connectors 26 (26 a,b) of ashelf 14 (14 a,b). Midplane connectors 26 may be generic, high densityconnectors. I-O panel connectors 24 may be used to provide input toand/or receive output from connectors 26 of a shelf 14. A pair ofcorresponding connectors 24 and 26 may align and mate with each other.

In certain embodiments, shelf 14 comprises an array of midplaneconnectors 26, and input-output panel 20 comprises an array of I-O panelconnectors 24. An array of elements may refer to elements arranged inrows and columns. In the embodiments, midplane connectors 26 and/or I-Opanel 20 may undergo one or more transformations such that midplaneconnectors 26 a are substantially aligned with I-O panel connectors 24.

In certain embodiments, the transformation may be one or more rotationsin a plane or about an axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the rows ofconnectors 24 and 26 define an x-axis (a “row axis”), and the columns ofconnectors 24 and 26 define a y-axis (a “column axis”). In theembodiment, the rows of connectors 26 b of shelf 14 b undergoes arotation about the x-axis by rewiring. The top row, Row 1, becomes thebottom row, and the bottom row, Row 2, becomes the top row. In theembodiment, input-output panel 20 undergoes a rotation of approximately180 degrees in the xy-plane. (Sides A, B, C, and D of panel 20 arelabeled to show the rotation.) In other embodiments, a transformationmay be a rotation about the x-axis, a rotation about the y-axis, arotation about the x-axis and a rotation about the y-axis, or othersuitable transformation. The rotations may be any suitable number ofdegrees, such as 0 to 90, 90 to 180, 180 to 270, or 270 to 360 degrees.

Panel 20 may be configured to couple to a back 28 a or front 28 b of ashelf 14 (14 a,b). In certain embodiments, panel 20 may be configured tocouple to a back 28 a of first shelf 14 a and to couple to a front 28 bof second shelf 14 b. Panel 20 may have a coupling device 30 configuredto couple input-output panels 20 to a shelf 14. Coupling device 30 mayalso provide mechanical support for panel 20 and may be used to guidepanel 20 into place on shelf 14. An example of a coupling device 30 usesstandoffs and screws.

In general, it is easier to transform panel 20 by moving it than totransform connectors 26 by rewiring them. Accordingly, thetransformations may be selected to reduce the difficulty of rewiring. Inone example, if the number of rows of connectors 26 is less than thenumber of columns, then the transformations may be selected to rotatethe rows of connectors 26 about the x-axis to align the rows and rotatepanel 20 in the xy-plane to align the columns. In another example, ifthe number of columns is less than the number of rows, then thetransformations may be selected to rotate the rows of connectors 26about the y-axis to align the rows and rotate (or not rotate) panel 20in the xy-plane, depending on the application.

I-O panel 20 may comprise any suitable substantially rigid material, forexample, metal or plastic. I-O panel 20 may be any suitable size orshape to cover some or all of a plane of shelf 14. I-O panel connectors24 may be any suitable interface configured to provide input to and/orreceive output from connectors 26 of a shelf 14.

In certain embodiments, shelf 14 represents a shelf that holds andotherwise supports plug-in units (PIUs) such as circuit cards. Shelf 14may have a midplane that connects to the PIUs. One subset of the PIUs(“upper PIUs”) may be on one side of the midplane, and another subset(“lower PIUs”) may be on the other side. The upper PIUs may be above oron the side of the midplane, and the lower may be below the midplane oron the other side of the midplane.

The midplane has midplane connectors. The midplane connectors couple tothe PIU connectors and operate as extensions of the PIU connectors. Themidplane connectors may be mounted to the backplane and may couple tothe PIU connectors via the shelf backplane. Providing input to andreceiving output from the PIUs may be accomplished through the midplaneconnectors. Accordingly, I-O panel connectors 24 may be used to provideinput to and/or receive output from the PIUs. Back 28 a or front 28 b ofshelf 14 may provide pin assignments for the midplane connectors.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of midplane connector arrays. FIG.2A illustrates a midplane connector array for a NEBS shelf. FIG. 2Billustrates a midplane connector array for an ETSI shelf.

In the illustrated example, Row x, x=1, 2, . . . , m, represent midplanerows of midplane connectors 26 aligned parallel to an x-axis, and Columny, y=1, 2, . . . , n, represent midplane columns of midplane connectors26 parallel to a y-axis. The midplane connector array for a NEBS shelfhas Row 1 proximate to y=M, Row m proximate to y=0, Column 1 proximateto x=0, and Column n proximate to x=N. The midplane connector array foran ETSI shelf has Row 1 proximate to y=0, Row m proximate to y=M, Column1 proximate to x=N, and Column n proximate to x=0.

In certain embodiments, input-output panel 20 used for the NEBS shelfrotated 180 degrees in the xy-plane for use with the ETSI shelf.Midplane connectors 26 of the ETSI shelf are rotated about the x-axis.

TABLES 1 and 2 show examples of arrangements of pin assignments formidplane connectors 26. TABLE 1 shows an example of an arrangement for aNEBS shelf, viewed from the back of the shelf.

TABLE 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 A A1 A2 A3 A4A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 A17 A18 A19 A20 B B1 B2 B3 B4B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20 C C1 C2 C3 C4C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 D D1 D2 D3 D4D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 E E1 E2 E3 E4E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12 E13 E14 E15 E16 E17 E18 E19 E20 F F1 F2 F3 F4F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15 F16 F17 F18 F19 F20 G G1 G2 G3 G4G5 G6 G7 G8 G9 G10 G11 G12 G13 G14 G15 G16 G17 G18 G19 G20 H H1 H2 H3 H4H5 H6 H7 H8 H9 H10 H11 H12 H13 H14 H15 H16 H17 H18 H19 H20

TABLE 2 shows an example of an arrangement for an ETSI shelf, viewedfrom the front of the shelf.

TABLE 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 A H20 H19 H18H17 H16 H15 H14 H13 H12 H11 H10 H9 H8 H7 H6 H5 H4 H3 H2 H1 B G20 G19 G18G17 G16 G15 G14 G13 G12 G11 G10 G9 G8 G7 G6 G5 G4 G3 G2 G1 C F20 F19 F18F17 F16 F15 F14 F13 F12 F11 F10 F9 F8 F7 F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1 D E20 E19 E18E17 E16 E15 E14 E13 E12 E11 E10 E9 E8 E7 E6 E5 E4 E3 E2 E1 E D20 D19 D18D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 F C20 C19 C18C17 C16 C15 C14 C13 C12 C11 C10 C9 C8 C7 C6 C5 C4 C3 C2 C1 G B20 B19 B18B17 B16 B15 B14 B13 B12 B11 B10 B9 B8 B7 B6 B5 B4 B3 B2 B1 H A20 A19 A18A17 A16 A15 A14 A13 A12 A11 A10 A9 A8 A7 A6 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of panel 20 used with NEBS shelf 14 a.In the illustrated embodiment, NEBS shelf 14 a includes midplaneconnectors 26, upper PIU connectors 40, and lower PIU connectors 42arranged as shown. Panel 20 couples to NEBS shelf 14 a as shown.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of panel 20 used with ETSI shelf 14 b.In the illustrated embodiment, ETSI shelf 14 b includes midplaneconnectors 26, upper PIUs 44, and lower PIUs 46 arranged as shown. Panel20 couples to ETSI shelf 14 b as shown.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the apparatusesdisclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Thecomponents of the apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover,the operations of the apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, orother components. As used in this document, “each” refers to each memberof a set or each member of a subset of a set.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methodsdisclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Themethods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps maybe performed in any suitable order.

Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technicaladvantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may be that aninput-output panel may be used with a first shelf having rear accessconfigured according to a first format, or with a second shelf havingfront access configured according to a second format different from thefirst format. For example, the first format may be a Network EquipmentBuilding Systems (NEBS) format, and the second format may be a EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) format. The second shelfmay be wired to accommodate the input-output panel.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certainembodiments, alterations and permutations of the embodiments will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above descriptionof the embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes,substitutions, and alterations are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

1. An apparatus comprising: an input-output (I-O) panel comprising anarray of I-O panel connectors arranged in: a plurality of I-O panel rowsdefining a row axis; and a plurality of I-O panel columns defining acolumn axis, the I-O panel defining an xy-plane; the I-O panel columnsarranged to: align with a plurality of first midplane connector columnsof a plurality of first midplane connectors of a first shelf configuredaccording to a first format; and after a substantially 180 degreerotation in the xy-plane, align with a plurality of second midplaneconnector columns of a plurality of second midplane connectors of asecond shelf configured according to a second format different from thefirst format.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, the I-O panel rows arrangedto: align with a plurality of first midplane connector rows of the firstmidplane connectors; and after rotating a plurality of second midplaneconnector rows of the second midplane connectors about the row axis,align with the second midplane connector rows.
 3. The apparatus of claim1, the I-O panel rows arranged to: align with a plurality of firstmidplane connector rows of the first midplane connectors; and after asubstantially 180 degree rotation in the xy-plane, align with the secondmidplane connector rows.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, the I-O panel rowsare arranged to: align with a plurality of first midplane connector rowsof the first midplane connectors; and align with a plurality of secondmidplane connector rows of the second midplane connectors.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, the first format comprising a Network EquipmentBuilding Systems (NEBS) format.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, the secondformat comprising a European Telecommunications Standards Institute(ETSI) format.